Manny Pacquiao is on the verge of making a sensational comeback to the sport.
It was confirmed at the end of last month that 46-year-old Pacquiao will face reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday July 19.
Another big announcement also came on June 5 when Ukrainian great Vasiliy Lomachenko confirmed his retirement from the sport at 37-years-old.
Lomachenko is often regarded as being one of the most technically gifted fighters of all time, proving his credentials during his accomplished amateur career before he entered the paid ranks back in 2013.
In an interview with Fight Hype, Pacquiao spoke fondly of ‘Loma’, as he admits the 37-year-old ‘had reasons’ to finally walk away from the sport.
“He’s champion and he’s a good boxer so he has a reason why he’s retired.”
Lomachenko became a world champion in just his third professional fight when he captured the vacant WBO featherweight title with a victory over Gary Russell Jr.
He made the move up to super-featherweight after a handful of defences, dethroning WBO champion Rocky Martinez with an explosive fifth round stoppage.
He went on to become the unified WBC, WBA and WBO lightweight champion in 2019 before suffering the first defeat of his career to Teofimo Lopez a year later.
After falling short against undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney two years ago, Lomachenko recaptured a version of the lightweight title when he defeated Australia’s George Kambosos Jr in what would go on to be the final outing of the Ukrainian icon’s storied career.